Seeing-eye dogs or other service animals are permitted at all destinations.

Please leave pets at home when visiting other sites where pets are not allowed. Visitors have a unique opportunity to experience native plants and animals in a natural environment at Metro parks and natural areas, from Smith and Bybee Wetlands to Canemah Bluff. Dogs and other pets can damage sensitive habitat and threaten wildlife the region has worked to protect.

Supporting parks for dogs

Metro is working hard to protect clean water, restore fish and wildlife habitat, and provide opportunities for people to connect with nature. Although Metro doesn't allow dogs at most of our sites, we believe it's important to invest in parks, trails and natural areas where dogs are allowed, on leash or off. Thanks to voter investments in the 1995 and 2006 bond measures, Metro has provided $69 million to local parks providers and supported dozens of destinations where dogs are allowed, including:

Clackamas County

Ardenwald Park

Barton Park

Browns Ferry Park

Carver Park

Clackamette Park

Cross Park

Homewood Park

Marylhurst Heights Park

Midhill Park

Robinwood Community Park

Multnomah County

Donald L. Robertson Park

Duniway Park

Fairview Woods Wetlands Park

Westmoreland Park

Willamette Park

Washington County

Fanno Creek Trail

King City Community Park

Jackie Husen Park

Noble Woods Park

Rock Creek Greenway

Rood Bridge Park

Stella Olsen Park

Birds and other animals think of dogs – even the friendliest ones – as predators. Animals have a keen sense of sight, smell and hearing; the presence of a dog, even on a leash, will disrupt their normal behaviors. We also know that in natural areas where dogs are not allowed, people see more wildlife and can get closer to it. To ensure the policy is consistent with the best available research, our science team recently reviewed 54 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, as well as 23 professional reports. The research is consistent and compelling.

The pets policy also applies to heavily used destinations such as Blue Lake Regional Park, where several thousand people are picnicking, walking, biking, swimming and playing games on a busy summer day. Introducing pets to a crowded environment can pose safety risks for both people and animals.

People have many options throughout the region when they want to spend time outdoors with their pets, but very few places they can depend on to protect sensitive habitat and provide a unique experience in nature. Among the 100 largest cities in America, Portland already leads the country with the most off-leash dog parks per capita, with 5.4 such parks per 100,000 residents, according to the 2015 City Park Facts report from The Trust for Public Land.

Although Metro doesn’t allow pets at most of our sites, we believe it’s important to invest in parks, trails and natural areas where dogs are allowed, on leash or off. Metro has supported a number of dog-friendly destinations throughout the region with money from the natural areas bond measures that voters approved in 1995 and 2006.

These bond measures designated money – $44 million in the 2006 bond and $25 million in the 1995 bond – to local cities, counties and parks providers to acquire land or make improvements. Voter investments have supported dog-friendly destinations such as Forest Park in Portland, Cook Park in Tigard, Hood View Park in Happy Valley and dozens of other sites.

Whether your roots in the region run generations deep or you moved to Oregon last week, you have your own reasons for loving this place – and Metro wants to keep it that way. Help shape the future of the greater Portland region and discover tools, services and places that make life better today.